Find Grow Keep

Hosted by Karen Kirton Amplify HR

Business

Website RSS feed

Episodes

161

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

Bite-sized people & business advice for forward-thinking Founders, CEOs, and Senior Business Leaders in Australia & beyond. As a leader, you’re responsible for growth, navigating market changes, all while trying to find time for to recruit, develop, retain and motivate your team. It’s a lot. Managing the 'people stuff' effectively is not just an HR function – It’s a core aspect of running a successful business. If you're looking to unlock growth and drive performance, these short and practical podcast episodes will give you the tools and insights to get your business to the next stage by leveraging great people and culture. Brought to you by Karen Kirton, Founder of Amplify HR, Karen has over 20 years' experience in People Management, degrees in Business and Psychology, and is the Amazon best-selling author of “Great People, Great Business: Your HR handbook for creating a business that’s ready to scale and grow”. Karen is passionate about creating workplaces that engage and inspire—especially for small to medium sized This podcast is designed to give you practical, down-to-earth solutions and real life case studies that will genuinely make a difference. Learn more at: https://www.amplifyhr.com.au Get our free eBook packed with practical strategies to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Perfect for business owners and leaders focused on building a thriving team. Download it at amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/find-grow-keep

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 14, 2026Episode 16114 min

2.161 Why Good Onboarding Can Solve More Problems Than People Expect

In this episode, we explore why onboarding is one of the most underestimated parts of running a business. Many employers still treat it as a first day activity focused on paperwork, logins, and introductions, but good onboarding does much more than that. When done well, it helps new employees settle in faster, understand what is expected of them, and become productive sooner. It can also prevent a range of issues that often show up later as performance concerns, poor communication, lack of accountability, manager frustration, or early turnover. In today’s episode, you will learn about: Why onboarding is not the same as induction, and why that distinction matters How poor onboarding can lead to confusion, inconsistency, and extra pressure on managers and teams Why small businesses feel the impact of weak onboarding more quickly than larger organisations How a thoughtful employee onboarding process can improve confidence, connection, and performance The role managers play in creating a successful onboarding experience Practical ways to improve employee onboarding without needing complex systems or expensive software Why better onboarding can support retention and help you get value from a new hire faster If your current onboarding is mostly first day admin followed by a few check ins here and there, this episode will give you a more useful and practical way to think about it. Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases on Mondays! Visit https://www.amplifyhr.com.au for more insights and resources. Book a free discovery call: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ronita-fourie Send us Fan MailGet our free eBook packed with practical strategies to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Perfect for business owners and leaders focused on building a thriving team. Download it at amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/find-grow-keep

June 7, 2026Episode 16024 min

2.160 Inclusive Leadership and Belonging with Deepa Mani

In this episode, Karen is joined by Deepa Mani (for a thoughtful conversation about inclusive leadership, belonging, heritage, and what it means to build a business outside the dominant framework. Deepa shares the story behind her two ventures and reflects on how identity, culture, and lived experience have shaped the way she leads. We also explore why diversity should never be treated as a checklist, how leaders can create a stronger sense of belonging, and what businesses can learn from building with intention from the very beginning. In today’s episode, we talk about: what it means to lead with heritage without feeling boxed in by it how Deepa identified a gap in the market and built businesses that reflect community needs why diversity needs to be embedded from the start rather than added later how belonging is created through consistency, authenticity, and clear values what teaching and leading others can teach us about vulnerability, patience, and resilience practical reflections for business owners who want to build more inclusive teams and workplaces the reminder that building a meaningful business takes time and is very much a long game This episode is a great listen for business owners and leaders who want to think more deeply about culture, identity, leadership, and belonging in the workplace. Visit https://www.amplifyhr.com.au for more insights and resources. Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases on Mondays! Connect with Deepa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepa-mani-cbap-msp-8330773/ Send us Fan Mail

May 31, 2026Episode 15915 min

2.159 What Does a Human Resources Company Really Do? A Guide for Growing Businesses

In this episode, Karen unpacks a question that a lot of growing business owners quietly ask as their team expands and things become more complex: what does an HR company actually do? HR can feel quite manageable in the early stages of business. But as you grow, what once felt simple can start to feel messy, inconsistent, and risky. That is often the point where business owners realise they need more support around their people, managers, processes, and compliance. In this episode, Karen talks through what a human resources company really does, why many small and medium businesses choose outsourced HR instead of hiring internally, and how the right HR support can help you build stronger foundations for growth. In today’s episode, you will learn about: What a human resources company actually does beyond contracts and policies The types of support HR can provide, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee issues, compliance, and leadership support Why outsourced HR can be a practical and cost effective option for growing businesses What often starts to go wrong when there is no real HR structure in place How good HR support helps create more clarity, consistency, confidence, and a stronger workplace culture The signs that suggest it may be time to get HR support in your business Why choosing the right HR partner matters if you want advice that is practical, commercially aware, and tailored to your business If the people side of your business is starting to feel heavier, more distracting, or harder to manage than it used to, this episode will help you understand what support is available and why it can make such a difference. If you would like to chat about how Amplify HR can support your business, you can book a free discovery call here: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ronita-fourie Visit https://www.amplifyhr.com.au for more insights and resources. Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases every second Monday! Send us Fan MailGet our free eBook packed with practical strategies to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Perfect for business owners and leaders focused on building a thriving team. Download it at amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/find-grow-keep

May 24, 2026Episode 15826 min

2.158 Psychological Safety vs Psychosocial Safety at Work with Peter Brace

Karen is joined by Peter Brace for a thoughtful and practical conversation about the difference between psychological safety and psychosocial safety, and why both matter in creating healthier, more effective workplaces. These are terms that are being talked about more often, especially as employers navigate their responsibilities around psychosocial hazards and workplace wellbeing. But for many leaders, they can still feel unclear or overwhelming. In this conversation, Peter breaks it down in a simple way and shares practical insights to help leaders better understand what to look for, what to ask, and where to start. In today’s episode, you will learn about: The difference between psychological safety and psychosocial safety, and how the two are connected What leaders often misunderstand about psychological safety and the behaviours that can either build or damage it Common psychosocial hazards at work, including overwork, uncertainty, bullying, harassment, and poorly defined roles Early warning signs that a workplace may be becoming psychologically unsafe How leaders and business owners can start identifying psychosocial risks through better conversations and by looking at workplace data Why this is about much more than compliance, and how safer workplaces can improve wellbeing, trust, and performance Simple, practical ways leaders can create environments where people feel safe to speak up and supported in doing their best work If you are a business owner, leader, or manager wanting to create a healthier workplace culture, this episode will give you practical ideas to reflect on and apply in your own business. Make sure you subscribe to stay updated with new episodes released on Mondays. Visit https://www.amplifyhr.com.au for more insights and resources. Connect with Peter: https://humancapitalrealisation.com/ Or https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbracehcr Send us Fan Mail

May 17, 2026Episode 15718 min

2.157 The 3-Step Method to Resolve Employee Conflict Without Drama

Workplace conflict can feel uncomfortable to address, especially when you are already stretched and trying to keep the team moving forward. But avoiding it rarely makes it better. In this episode, Karen Kirton shares a practical 3 step method to help managers and business owners resolve employee conflict calmly, clearly and without unnecessary drama. You will learn how to get to the real issue, how to facilitate a productive conversation between employees, and how to put clear actions in place so the same tension does not keep resurfacing. If you have ever felt unsure about when to step in, what to say, or how to manage conflict without making things worse, this episode will give you a simple and realistic framework to use. If managing people issues does not always come naturally, this is a helpful place to start. Book a free discovery call with Amplify HR here: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ronita-fourie Visit amplifyhr.com.au for more insights and resources. Also Mentioned in This Episode: https://www.amplifyhr.com.au/whole-brain-thinking/ Send us Fan Mail

May 10, 2026Episode 15629 min

2.156 How Purpose and Values Help Small Businesses Grow with Jason Le

In this episode of the Find Grow Keep podcast, Karen sits down with Jason Le from JRNY Digital to talk about why purpose, values, vision and mission are not just nice words for your website. They help shape how small businesses grow, how they market themselves, who they attract, how they make decisions, and how they build teams that truly fit. We explore why so many businesses struggle to stand out when they try to appeal to everyone, how authentic values help connect with the right clients and employees, and why your personal story often holds the key to your business purpose. Jason also shares how his own family’s experience in small business shaped the work he does today, and why clarity around who you serve can make every part of your business stronger. In this episode, we cover: Why purpose is a practical business tool, not a fluffy extra How values influence brand, culture and hiring Why generic messaging makes businesses easy to ignore How to define what your business really stands for How clarity helps small businesses grow with intention If you are a small business owner who wants to grow with more clarity, alignment and impact, this conversation is well worth a listen. Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases on Mondays! Visit https://www.amplifyhr.com.au/ for more insights and resources. Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-le1/ Send us Fan Mail

May 3, 2026Episode 15519 min

2.155 7 Management Tasks You Can Automate Today (Without Losing Control)

In this episode, Karen discusses how founders and business leaders can use automation to save time, reduce admin, and create more consistency across their people processes without removing the human side of leadership. Because for many growing businesses, people management starts off as something you simply absorb into your day. But as the team grows, so does the admin. Before long, you are spending hours on follow up, reminders, approvals, and processes that do not really need to depend on you. In today’s episode, we explore seven practical management tasks you can start automating now, including: Recruitment admin, so you can spend less time on back and forth and more time making good hiring decisions Onboarding workflows, to create a smoother and more consistent experience for new starters Performance check in reminders, so important conversations do not keep slipping when things get busy Training and compliance tracking, to reduce risk and make sure important requirements are not missed Leave and timesheet approvals, to cut down on unnecessary friction and manual follow up Routine employee communication, so key updates are sent clearly and consistently Reporting and dashboards, to help you spot patterns early and make better people decisions If you have ever felt like you have become the accidental HR manager in your own business, this episode will help you think more clearly about what to systemise, what to keep personal, and where to start. Make sure you subscribe so you do not miss future episodes. Visit https://www.amplifyhr.com.au for more insights and resources. Book a free discovery call: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ronita-fourieSend us Fan MailGet our free eBook packed with practical strategies to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Perfect for business owners and leaders focused on building a thriving team. Download it at amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/find-grow-keep

April 26, 2026Episode 15421 min

2.154 What Small Business Leaders Get Wrong About Performance Management

In this episode, Karen explores why so many small business leaders only think about performance management once something has already gone wrong. Instead of seeing it as just paperwork, warnings and formal conversations, she looks at what good performance management really involves: clear expectations, regular feedback, role clarity, support, accountability and stronger leadership. In today’s episode, you will learn about: Why performance management should not start at the formal end The accidental manager problem Why role clarity matters more than many leaders realise How regular feedback and check ins prevent bigger issues later Why culture plays such an important role in accountability Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases every second Monday! Visit amplifyhr.com.au for more insights and resources. Book a free discovery call: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ronita-fourie Send us Fan MailGet our free eBook packed with practical strategies to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Perfect for business owners and leaders focused on building a thriving team. Download it at amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/find-grow-keep

April 19, 2026Episode 15324 min

2.153 How to Build a Business That Does Not Depend on You with Don Hett

In this episode, Karen is joined by Don Hett, founder of CleanKings, EarthyTabs and Crittiks. Thirteen years ago, Don started CleanKings. Over time, the business grew successfully, but like many Founders, he found himself deeply embedded in the day to day operations. At one point he realised he had become a prisoner of his own company. That moment became a turning point. In this conversation, Don shares how he transitioned from being the hands on operator to becoming the visionary leader behind the business. He talks openly about the systems, operational clarity and leadership capability required to build a company that does not rely solely on the founder. We explore: The emotional shift from doer to leader of leaders Why hiring people smarter than you is essential for growth How to build culture across multiple ventures The importance of delegation with clarity and accountability What founders should stop doing if they want to scale How overthinking can stall business momentum We also discuss Don’s latest venture, EarthyTabs, a purpose driven startup tackling the environmental impact of cleaning chemicals. Born from frustration inside his own cleaning company, EarthyTabs combines product innovation with measurable sustainability data, helping businesses understand the real impact of their choices. If you are a founder, business owner or leader who wants to scale without being trapped in operations, this episode offers practical insights grounded in real experience. Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases on Mondays! Visit https://www.amplifyhr.com.au/ for more insights and resources. Also Mentioned in This Episode: Connect with Don Hett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donhettofficial/ Earthy Tabs: https://www.earthytabs.com/ Send us Fan Mail

April 12, 2026Episode 15216 min

2.152 HR Support Services: How the Right HR Partner Strengthens Your Business

In this episode, we explore what HR support services actually include, why they matter so much for growing businesses, and how the right support can help leaders feel more confident, reduce risk, and create a stronger workplace. If you are spending more and more time dealing with hiring, performance issues, compliance questions, awkward conversations, or workplace tensions, this episode will help you understand when external HR support starts to make sense and what real value it can bring. In today’s episode, you will learn about: What HR support services are and why they are about much more than policies and paperwork The key areas good HR support can help with, including compliance, employee relations, performance management, recruitment, onboarding, and strategic advice Why growing businesses often reach a point where their people practices need to catch up with their business growth The signs it might be time to bring in external HR support What an HR consultant actually does and how they can help simplify the people side of running a business Why outsourced HR can be a smart and flexible option for small and medium businesses How HR support can help with Fair Work compliance and reduce the stress of getting it wrong The difference the right HR partner can make to leadership confidence, employee experience, and business performance This episode is a helpful one for business owners and leaders who want to strengthen their HR foundations before things start to feel urgent. Make sure to subscribe to stay updated with new releases on Mondays. Visit https://www.amplifyhr.com.au for more insights and resources. Free Download: https://www.amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/find-grow-keep/Send us Fan MailGet our free eBook packed with practical strategies to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Perfect for business owners and leaders focused on building a thriving team. Download it at amplifyhr.com.au/downloadable/find-grow-keep